A good heist movie brings the action, tension, memorable characters, clever writing and laughs that make for a good time at the theater. Sounds like a great recipe for game night, doesn't it?
Some TTRPG heist systems are made with that exact experience in mind; your group plots a job and pulls it off in action-packed fashion. Other systems have different types of gameplay but can offer what you need for a heist mission. One area heist TTRPGs excel in are one-shots, since it’s usually more fun for heists to move quickly and resolve with a bang before they overstay their welcome. With that in mind, here are some top heist RPGS for getting the score and getting out before the law catches you.
Blades In The Dark
This one became a hit in the TTRPG scene a few years ago, and for good reason. Blades in the Dark brings immaculate vibes for a heist setup, following in the vein of video games like Dishonored or Thief. It’s more about how you use your skills in the moment rather than spending an hour of game time planning. This keeps the game moving and ensures that no one feels useless. There’s also a spooky supernatural element to the world which makes it stand out from other heist games.
Scum And Villainy
Scum and Villainy runs off the same core rules as Blades in the Dark. You can rest assured that this means you’ll get character roles that are fun to play, dynamic heist missions, and compelling enemies that you’ll love to steal from. The biggest difference, of course, is that this game is set in spaaaaace! So in addition to pulling off a big score, you’ll also engage in daring spaceship chases and tense blaster shootouts. You’ll also get a spaceship that levels up alongside your characters.
Cyberpunk RED
You might not think of this one immediately when you hear the word “heist” but think back to your Cyberpunk 2077 playthrough. Many of the missions revolved around getting into a facility, grabbing some valuable piece of tech or info, and making it out in one piece. Sure, you could just whip out your mantis blades and go on a cutting spree, but stealth was definitely an option. Same thing in Cyberpunk RED. While many of the gear and ability options lean towards combat, it wouldn’t be too hard for the GM and players to establish a heist campaign. Hacking via Netrunning in and of itself is a mini-heist.
Outgunned
Should you want a more modern-style take on heists like Ocean’s 11, Outgunned is what you’re looking for. The system is made to mimic the exploits of action movies by giving you archetypes to play like the bruiser, driver, or spy. So while you can go guns blazing like John Wick, the game is equally suited to a heist or spy mission. You could also stage a high-speed car heist like when they drove away with an entire safe in Fast & Furious 5.
Honey Heist
A modern classic, and one that’s extremely easy to pick up and play. The rules of Honey Heist literally take up one page. Everyone plays as bears out to steal honey, the trick being that you need to balance your animal nature with the criminal smarts needed to pull off the job. The defining feature of each bear is what silly hat they get. That statement should tip you off to the fact that this is a comedy game more suited to a low-stakes one-shot night. Sometimes that’s exactly what the table needs.
Pirate Borg
Pirates weren’t always known for their sneakiness, but that doesn’t mean your crew has to be a bunch of bloodthirsty pillagers. Pirate Borg is very easy to learn and quick to start playing. The characters’ capabilities boil down more to what you can think of rather than what’s on your sheet. So your table’s Pirate Borg could easily be the tale of a stealthy crew that sails into port at night, cleans the place out, and is gone by sunrise. Gathering your treasure by sleight of hand and burying it in a hidden location could replace grand swashbuckling ship battles. Like Scum and Villainy, the getaway ship chase could be just as important as the theft.
Fiasco
Fiasco is a wonderful way to introduce new players to roleplaying or test out how a new group of experienced players will bounce off of one another. This GM-less game puts your characters together for you via a series of quick card draws. The fun part is that all of these people will be petty and often have conflicting goals, with some even trying to stop the heist. The end result comes across as one of those cult movies where famous actors play offbeat characters. Fiasco leads to a lot of laughs, can be played in one setting, and has several expansions that tackle all kinds of iconic movie genres.
One Last Job
If you’re looking for a nice sendoff to your heist campaign, a surprise sequel, or just a fun game for one-shot night, check out One Last Job. As the name implies, your character is a retiree pulled back into the game one last time. This game’s main innovation is that other players decide your character’s details for you. Their teasing about how good you used to be or stories about the old days become canon parts of your character. One Last Job even comes with guidance on creating various settings so it doesn’t have to be an action crime drama.
